In autumn and winter, mice are especially frequent guests in the house. They are looking for food and a warm shelter. However, such a neighborhood can be not only unpleasant, but also dangerous for a person. Therefore, it is better to get rid of the mice in any way possible.
Where do mice come from?
They often enter houses and apartments through basements or attics. Rodents use open holes near pipes, cracks in baseboards, ventilation and chute. Sometimes they climb to higher floors through balconies and holes in concrete slabs, or gnaw their way through wood and plastic. They are also capable of digging a tunnel under the foundation of a house.
Mice also have “favorite” materials. For example, wall insulation, especiallyStyrofoam or glass wool, where they build passages and nests and reproduce.
The chances of mice appearing in living quarters are increased if there is a cellar, barn or granary nearby. In the house itself, they are attracted by uncleaned crumbs and debris. As soon as rodents find water and food, they are ready to settle in such a place forever.
In addition, it is worth preparing for an “invasion” if the neighbors have mice – pests like to expand their territory of presence.
Why are mice dangerous?
They are capable of creating real chaos: gnawing at walls, destroying food packages, ruining clothes or shoes, and more. Due to such guests, an unpleasant smell appears in the house or apartment. What’s more, mice often damage wires, which can cause fires.
But perhaps the most dangerous thing in such a neighborhood is that the rodents arecarriers of more than 35 diseases. Pests alsomayaggravate allergic reactions and asthma if family members are affected.
How to understand that mice are in the house
The main feature is mouse droppings. In appearance, it resembles dark granules of rice about 6 millimeters long. For comparison: rat droppings are about twice as large – about 12 millimeters in length.
Another clear signal of the appearance of mice is gnawed food boxes, dirt and strange debris on the shelves.
If one mouse ran somewhere, most likely, several more are hiding in the house. Once one rodent was able to enter the room, the others probably did. Moreover, their number is increasing very rapidly.
How to get rid of mice
Find where they come from
Before starting pest control, you need to study how they were able to get into the house. Expertswarnthat spontaneously setting up traps is not a good idea.
Therefore, to begin with, you should take the time to carefully examine the rooms, storage rooms and the garage , if any. You need to try to find all the places where mice can build nests.
Set traps
The best way to get rid of mice quickly is to use traps and special baits. They must be placed in the most vulnerable places: along the walls and behind containers with garbage.
Note that all traps, except sticky tapes, require bait. Peanut butter, chocolate, cheese, bird food, or nuts are good choices.
Mousetrap
This is the most popular, time-tested and effective way to get rid of mice. There are different types of mousetraps: tunnel, cage, crocodile and many others.
These devices are easy to use, but they can be hazardous to family members and pets . Among the disadvantages is the need to constantly check the performance of the structure, prepare the bait, and then also get rid of the rodent trapped in the trap.
In no case should you touch the mouse after it has ended up in a mousetrap. Wear rubber gloves and spray disinfectant on the rodent and the area where it is. Then put the mouse in a sealed plastic bag, close tightly, place in another bag and discard. And then wash your gloved hands thoroughly with soap, treat with a disinfectant and get rid of the gloves. At the end, you need to wash your hands again and use an antiseptic .
Electric traps
They lure mice and shock them. When the trap is triggered, a special indicator lights up. Such devices are safe for people and pets who simply cannot get there.
But mice trapped in such a trap have practically no chance – the electronic circuit is closed as soon as the rodent is inside. This is a relatively humane method of struggle, since the victim dies instantly from the discharge, and you can get rid of the mice without even touching them.
The main disadvantage here is the high price in comparison with other types of traps. However, if efficiency is more important than cost, this would be a good choice.
Sticky traps
They consist of a special backing and non-drying glue. Rodents stick to the structure and stay in place until freed or killed.
Sticky traps are cheap and easy to use. Moreover, they are disposable, which is rather a minus. Sometimes the substrates are very light, so the mouse can drag them into the shelter. In addition, this method is not suitable for dealing with a large number of rodents and in the event that there are pets in the house.
After the trap is triggered, you need to put on gloves, place the pest along with the sticky backing in a deep container and discard.
If you want to free the mouse, after transferring it to the container, you can gently cover the head of the rodent with a towel to calm it down and hold it on its back until you can peel it off. To do this, pour vegetable oil over the place where the animal stuck. After getting rid of the trap, you should carefully remove the excess oil from the rodent, pour some water on it and cover the container with a towel. When the rodent moves away from the shock, you can release it.
Zhivolovki
These are cages with a specially designed door that closes as soon as the mouse enters. It is a humane, simple and inexpensive way to control rodents.
The main disadvantages are that you need to spend time on the correct installation, and after catching the pest, you need to decide how to deal with it. If you need to get rid of mice in a safe and bloodless way, the captured rodent can be taken out into the forest and released.
Poisons
There are two main of the kindpoisons for mice: acute and chronic action. The former include, for example, zinc phosphide and rats. They cause symptoms from the first hour of ingestion and are fatal after a single use. Poisons of the second type, such as phentolacin or warfarin, act gradually.
Poisonous substances are an effective and cheap, but not the most humane and convenient way to control pests. In addition, poisons are dangerous for people and pets. In addition, mice rarely die immediately, on the spot. They can climb into walls, behind furniture and even inside it, which will be indicated by a characteristic smell. There is also a possibility that the poison will spread throughout the house, which means that the danger to family members will increase significantly.
Call a specialist
When all possible methods have been tried, but the mice continue to reign in the apartment, you should call professionals for help. You can ask around friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Perhaps they have already encountered a similar problem and know where to turn to.
How to keep mice out of your home
After the house is finally free of rodents, it’s important to make sure they don’t come back. This can be done in several ways.
Use sealant and “steel wool”
Unfortunately, mice have ways to get into the house through the smallest holes and even make them even larger by gnawing. However, the sealant and “steel wool” are too tough for these pests. Expertsadvisepay special attention to the places where the pipes pass, as well as to the basement floor along the walls, ventilation and fireplace , if any.
Reduce shrubs around your home
Bushes and heaps of branches attract mice. Therefore, it is worth regularly trimming green spaces near the house and maintaining order on the site. Mice love to build nests in piles of things, so it is better to keep firewood at least 6 meters from a person’s dwelling.
Make the house uncomfortable for mice
The kitchen shelves, strewn with crumbs and leftover food, are a paradise for rodents, especially during the cold season. It is necessary to regularly wipe the inner surfaces of the cabinets and store the food in an airtight package. The same goes for pet food : don’t leave it in the bowl all day.
Mice also like to chew on paper, so it’s important to disassemble cabinets regularly and discard unwanted cellulose packaging right away.
Close trash can tightly
Litter attracts mice just like insects and other pests. To protect yourself from rodents, it is best to choose a waste container with an airtight lid or close it tightly with rubber cords.
Try organic oils
Experts emphasizethat home remedies are not the best way to get rid of rodents. Still worth a try.
Mice are deterred by the smells of clove and peppermint esters . You can soak cotton pads in one of these oils and leave them in areas that attract mice, such as drawers and cupboards in the kitchen.
